News and Notes

A Newsletter for Faculty and Staff of Idaho State University

April 11, 2011 — Vol. 27 No. 15

Faculty/Staff Updates

Russ Spearman, the director of the Institute of Rural Health's Traumatic Brain Injury Program at ISU-Meridian, has received the 2011 Most Valuable TBISERVE Contributor award from the Health Resources Services Administration

Russ Spearman, the director of the Institute of Rural Health's Traumatic Brain Injury Program at ISU-Meridian, has received the 2011 Most Valuable TBISERVE Contributor award from the Health Resources Services Administration.

This is the third time the HRSA's Maternal and Children's Health Bureau has honored Spearman for his work with traumatic brain injury.

The organization applauded Spearman for his expertise in using an electronic mail database to help organize and publicize free TBI webinars for state, national and global audiences.

"I work with a team of professionals who've helped ISU to be at the forefront of delivering high quality national webinars as a source of education for individuals with a TBI, family members, interested community members, and private and public providers," said Spearman.

"It's an honor to provide this kind of valuable information to our TBISERV partners. In this way, we can make a difference for traumatic brain injury survivors," he said.

News Bites

The Idaho Humanities Council awarded 41 grants this February including a $2000 grant to the Idaho State University Department of History

The Idaho Humanities Council awarded 41 grants this February including a $2000 grant to the Idaho State University Department of History.

The Idaho Humanities Council (IHC) is a non-profit, state-based affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities program. This year they awarded over $85,000 in grants to both organizations and individuals.

The $2000 grant given to the ISU Department of History will go toward funding the "Pocatello: American Crossroads" project. It will be used to digitally scan and archive historical southeastern Idaho photos. These photos will help develop an interactive website that will be accessible to both viewers and researchers.

"This project is a great collaborative effort between a number of campus departments as well as organizations within the community," said Tom Hallaq, an ISU professor and project member. "It is exciting in many ways, not only because of the historical stories, but also because of the technology that will be used in the project."

The website will give people the opportunity to explore the heritage of a major railroad town and its contribution to the early development of the West.

Idaho State History Department Chair, Kevin Marsh is the project director. ISU's Hallaq and Dawn Christiansen are also involved as well as Richard Smith from RAS & Associates and Derrick Sharp from Whisper Mountain, Inc., both of Pocatello.

The Division of Health Sciences 22nd Annual Research Day is set for Friday, April 15

"Bridging Research and Practice" is the theme of the Idaho State University Division of Health Sciences 22nd Annual Research Day, Friday, April 15, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., in Pocatello, and 8:30 to 1 p.m., in Meridian.

New this year is an April 14 pre-conference titled "Translational Science Primer," presented by the ISU Division of Health Sciences and the Institute of Translational Health Sciences in Seattle. It'll run from 1:45 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. on both campuses.

To register for the pre-conference and review both events' schedules, visit the Research Day website. Space at the pre-conference is limited.

Lynn Schnapp, M.D., professor of medicine, pulmonary and critical care at the University of Washington, will present the April 14 keynote address "Bridging the Gap: How to help forge bonds between basic scientists and clinicians."

Bert Boyer, Ph.D., a professor of molecular biology at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks, will give the April 15 keynote "Engaging Community Partners: Learning from Yup'ik Eskimos about risk and protection for obesity and diabetes." Boyer is also the director of the university's Center for Alaska Native Health Research.

Boyer and Schnapp are experts in translational science-research that improves human health by leading to discoveries that will eliminate human disease -and affiliated with the Institute of Translational Health Sciences.

Health care providers, faculty, students and the public are invited to Research Day activities, which will feature presentations on numerous topics, including youth mental health, prevention of teenage pregnancy, interprofessional mobile health care, suicide prevention and pharmaceutical research.

"We're pleased to have the College of Pharmacy participating this year now that it's a part of the Division of Health Sciences. Activities both days will bring insights and regional expertise in translational research to ISU and highlight internal research accomplishments and collaboration," said David Talford, a research committee member and clinical assistant professor in the Physician Assistant Studies Program at ISU-Meridian.

Activities will be held in the ISU Pocatello Rendezvous Complex, 1111 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, and at the ISU-Meridian Health Science Center, 1311 E. Central Drive, north of I-84 between Locust Grove and Meridian roads. Many sessions will be broadcast simultaneously using distance-learning technology.

For more information about Research Day 2011, contact David Talford at 208-373-1808 or talfdavi@isu.edu.

ISU Credit Union, in a cooperative venture with Idaho State University, will soon offer BengalCard Plus

ISU Credit Union, in a cooperative venture with Idaho State University, will soon offer BengalCard Plus. The new card combines the features of the existing ISU Bengal card with a debit card from ISU Credit Union. The new card will carry two magnetic stripes on the reverse side, one for information needed as an ID card and the second for debit card information.

"The BengalCard Plus is another in a series of considerable commitments by ISU Credit Union to the University," noted Robert Taylor, President of ISU Credit Union.

"The Credit Union enjoys a long-standing relationship with the University. We are pleased to provide $8,000 in scholarships to students each spring; sponsor the dual enrollment program for high school students; offer a $200 annual professional development scholarship to a staff or faculty member; and sponsorship of numerous clubs and events such as the Rugby club, TRIO/STEM, College of Technology, the Oboler Library, ISU Cares program and the ISU Advertising Federation," Taylor added.

Lowell Richards, Idaho State University executive director of student unions and involvement, views the new card as a major convenience.

"By providing a single card that can be used for purchasing on and off campus, entrance and participation in University events, facility access, meal plans, commuter bus access and eRefunds we will enhance student, faculty and staff satisfaction," he said.

In addition to convenience, cardholders can take advantage of various discounts and special deals at participating merchant locations.

From the student perspective, the BengalCard Plus promises to make life easier.

Alan Bodily, an ISU student said, "Being able to bank on campus will save students a lot of time. Saving money and time are the top priorities in any student's life."

ISU Credit Union will build a new high technology branch in the Pond Student Union this summer to serve the University.

"The branch will feature a unique service philosophy, 'dialog banking', Taylor said. The system eliminates teller lines and will allow members to actually see and participate in transactions on their account by working side by side with Credit Union team members."

The Anderson Gender Resource Center is looking for gently used maternity and baby clothing

In preparation for the Idaho State University Maternal Health and Resource Fair, organizers are encouraging people to donate any gently used maternity and baby clothing for the fair's maternity and baby clothing resale room.

The ISU Anderson Gender Resource Center, in collaboration with the Idaho Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women's Health, is getting ready to host the third annual Maternal Health and Resource Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 13 in the Pond Student Union Ballroom.

The Maternal Health and Resource Fair is free and open to anyone planning to become a parent, already is a parent or simply interested in learning more about maternal health and available resources.

This year, for the first time, the event will host a keynote speaker. Randi Hutter Epstein, a medical writer and adjunct professor at The Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University will speak about her new book "Get Me Out: A History of Childbirth from the Garden of Eden to the Sperm Bank."

"Thanks to a grant from the Office on Women's Health, we are able to make this event even bigger than previous years," said Ĺsa Burlin, AmeriCorps member at the Anderson Center. "We are very excited that we were able to get Dr. Epstein to come and be a part of the Fair, and we hope that people from all across the community will be joining us for this event."

The Anderson Center at Idaho State University serves as the focal point on campus for the consideration of gender issues. In our efforts, we are especially guided by the ideal of diversity, which allows us to envision a future free of the limitations imposed by our culture's standard definitions of gender and other categories of difference.

If you have a donation for the Fair, please drop it off at the Anderson Center, Graveley Hall Room 117.

If your business or organization is interested in participating and hosting a booth at the fair, please visit our website www.isu.edu/andersoncenter for a registration form.

For more information or assistance in getting items donated, call 208-282-2805.

The Idaho State University Department of Physics and the Society of Physics Students will present an afternoon full of scientific discovery with their "Pyrotacular" demonstration show on April 16

The Idaho State University Department of Physics and the Society of Physics Students will present an afternoon full of scientific discovery with their "Pyrotacular" demonstration show on April 16.

The demonstrations will take place from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. in Room 140 of the Physical Science Building on the ISU campus. The event is free and open to the public.

The show will feature the "Fire Tornado," the "Giant Jug Rocket," the "Flaming Wave Tube" and many other demonstrations. Guests can also enjoy hovercraft rides, hands-on science activities, and a candy shoot in the Physical Science Building foyer.

Science demonstration shows are presented at local K-12 schools upon invitation. For more information contact Steve Shropshire at 282-2212.

The Idaho State University Health Fair 2011 is set for Thursday and Friday, April 21-22

The Idaho State University Health Fair 2011 - celebrating its 31st year - is scheduled from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday and Friday, April 21-22, and will feature more than 60 learning centers on a variety of health issues.

Participants can get their blood drawn prior to the fair; those that get their blood drawn on or before April 15 can pick up their results at the fair, where health care professionals will help interpret results; if you have your blood drawn after April 15 or at the Health Fair, your results will be mailed to you.

Portneuf Medical Center (PMC) will provide laboratory services and blood draws at the fair on April 21-22. Blood draws will also be available on a walk-in basis from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Monday through Friday from April 1 - April 20 at both the East and West PMC laboratory locations. A 14-hour fast is required prior to a blood draw for the lipid profile and general chemistry profile.

The PMC East lab is located at 777 Hospital Way with access to the lab through the main entrance. West Campus PMC lab draws will be at the Main Lab, 651 Memorial Drive. Access is on the ground floor (level 6 of the parking garage elevator). Parking is available in the parking garage.

PMC offers a general health blood profile for $35. The screening will include a chemistry profile, assessments for cardiac risk based on cholesterol levels, a complete blood count and a thyroid screen. Optional tests include a $15 confidential HIV screening and a $15 prostate antigen test. Other tests that will be offered include thyroid function screen for $15, iron level for $5, uric acid level for $5, glycohemoglobin for $25 and insulin level for $25.

Examples of services offered at the fair include everything from body-fat screenings and tests of grip strength, to nervous system evaluations and home health and hospice information. Other learning centers will provide blood pressure readings, a medication brown bag for participants to bring in their medicines and ask pharmacy students about them, and hearing screening tests, to name a few.

The annual free Health Fair is sponsored by the ISU Division of Health Sciences and Portneuf Medical Center. It will be held in the ISU Pond Student Union Ballroom. Parking will be available in the Pond Student Union parking lot, and participants can park in the Holt Arena parking lot and ride free shuttle buses to the Pond Student Union.

For more information on learning centers, contact Wendy Moschella at 282-2132.

The ISU Jazz Big Bands I and II will be performing their final concert of the semester Saturday, April 16

The ISU Jazz Big Bands I and II will be performing their final concert of the semester Saturday, April 16, at 7:30 pm in Jensen Grand Concert Hall.

Selections will include some of the classic compositions and arrangements for big band, including Groovin' Hard by Don Menza, Tuning Up by Toshiko Akiyoshi, La Almeja Pequena by Gordon Goodwin, Back Bone by Thad Jones, and an arrangement of the jazz classic Afro Blue.

The ISU Jazz I Big Band is directed by Dr. Patrick Brooks, director of bands, and Jazz II is directed by Kevin York, associate director of bands.

Ticket prices for this concert are $8 adults, $6 ISU faculty and staff, $4 pre-college students, Free to ISU students. Children under the age of 6 will not be admitted into concerts.

Greg Finch, TIAA-CREF Representative, will be on campus April 19 and 20 in the Selway Room at the Student Union Building

Greg Finch, TIAA-CREF representative, will be on campus April 19 and 20 in the Selway Room at the Pond Student Union.

Please call 800-732-8353, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., to schedule an appointment.

The 2011 Annual Undergraduate Art Exhibition and Scholarship Competition will be on display from April 12 to May 6 at the John B. Davis Gallery

The 2011 Annual Undergraduate Art Exhibition and Scholarship Competition will be on display from April 12 to May 6 at the John B. Davis Gallery in the Idaho State University Fine Arts Building.

This year's juror for the competition is Benjamin Gardner, an assistant professor of drawing at Drake University. Gardner's work has been presented in many exhibitions and has also been published in the national publication, New American Paintings.

Gardner will also give a presentation titled "Said Three Times (Before Summer)" on April 8 in Room 401 of the ISU Fine Arts Building at 2 p.m. Anyone is welcome to attend.

The opening exhibition reception will be held on April 11 from 6 to 8 p.m. with the scholarship and award winners being announced at 7 p.m.

The gallery is open Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is free and open to the public. For more information visit www.isu.edu/art/galleries.shtml or contact Amy Jo Popa at ext. 3341.

All high school junior girls are invited to attend the overnight ISU Women's Health Leadership Summit from May 20 to May 21

All high school junior girls are invited to attend the overnight ISU Women's Health Leadership Summit from May 20 to May 21. The conference is free and begins at 8:30 a.m. on Friday. Check out is at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday.

The conference will address healthy lifestyles, pursuing healthy leadership roles within the community, college preparation and careers in the health professions. It will provide an opportunity for young women to consider attending college and explore new avenues to community health leadership roles.

Registration is free. Attendees will enjoy planned programs and activities and receive program materials, meals and snacks, and an overnight stay in ISU housing. However, transportation is not included and girls will need to bring their own personal pillow, sleeping bag, and towel.

Please call Ralph Norton at ext. 2926 for more information and to ensure seating. The schedule and topics are:

April 19: "Writing to External Audience." A critical skill that sounds basic, but is too often neglected - to the detriment of the proposal.

April 26: "Writing Methodologies/Work Plans." A discussion of pitfalls - and their corrections - that confound many when writing these sections of a proposal.

Idaho State University has scheduled New Freshman Registration 2011 for high school graduates and other new freshmen for the week of April 11

Idaho State University has scheduled New Freshman Registration 2011 for high school graduates and other new freshmen for the week of April 11.

If you are planning to attend Idaho State University on the Pocatello campus, New Freshman Registration will be held on April 12, 13, and 15, beginning at 8 a.m. and ending at 1 p.m. in the Pond Student Union. Check-in is at 8 a.m. in the Cesar Chavez Foyer, outside of the Bengal Theatre. Please call 282-3277 for more information on Pocatello Freshman Registration.

If you are planning to attend classes in Idaho Falls, an afternoon program will be offered on Thursday, April 14, starting with student check-in at 3 p.m. in the Samuel H. Bennion Student Union Building at University Place, 1784 Science Center Drive. The event will conclude at approximately 6:30 p.m. Parents and spouses are welcome. Call 282-7800 for more information on Idaho Falls Freshman Registration.

Participants in any of the programs can meet with faculty and staff to learn about the degrees and resources available at Idaho State University. Advisors will be available to help freshmen plan class schedules and register early for fall 2011 classes.

Attendance at the event will satisfy the mandatory first semester freshman fundamentals of advisement and registration requirement for all new students.

The Idaho State University Union Program Council is encouraging participation in National Volunteer Week from April 10 to April 16

The Idaho State University Union Program Council is encouraging participation in National Volunteer Week from April 10 to April 16.

The UPC was created this year as an on-campus volunteer office and is composed of five students who were chosen to help organize community involvement. It is their goal to raise awareness and promote new volunteers.

The theme this year for National Volunteer Week is "Celebrate People in Action." The Union Program Council is currently scheduling project volunteers to help make a difference in the community by volunteering at area agencies. Virginia Roberts, a UPC Volunteer Coordinator, says, "It's up to volunteers to take care of people."

The UPC is also putting on a raffle to encourage volunteers. Anyone who volunteers during National Volunteer Week through their program will be entered to win 1 of 4 ipod shuffles. The drawing will take place on Monday, April 18.

On April 16, the final day of volunteer week, a National Multiple Sclerosis Society Annual Walk will take place at Julia Davis Park in Boise, Idaho. Volunteers can help hang décor, mark the route, check-in participants, serve food, run prizes, lead cheers and organize team photos.

A full list of local available area agencies is posted online and all volunteer applications and signups are available there as well. For more information or to schedule volunteer hours, visit www.isu.edu/union/community/calendar.shtml or call 282-3494.

Employee Recognition Week was held March 28-31

Employee Recognition Week was held March 28-31.

There was a wide variety of professional and personal development workshops available throughout the week, with many of them offered as a distance learning opportunity to other sites. The Employee Recognition Luncheon was held in Pocatello, Idaho Falls and Meridian. We also had a drawing at all sites as part of the ISU Benefit Fair, and a $200 Scholarship from ISU Credit Union was awarded to Lisa Kidder.